Long-term prognosis excellent 5 years after initial anti-PD-1 treatment in melanoma

A new retrospective cohort study suggests that melanoma patients treated with anti-PD-1 off-trial can expect excellent long-term outcomes, particularly if they do not require additional melanoma treatment during the first 5 years.

The study included patients with unresectable stage III/IV nonuveal melanoma treated with anti-PD-1 off-trial at the center who survived at least five years following their first anti-PD-1 dose. A total of 139 patients were included in the study, and the researchers characterized overall survival (OS), melanoma-specific survival (MSS) estimates, treatment-free survival rates, and subsequent treatment courses.

The median follow-up among the 5-plus year survivors was 78.4 months, and the OS at year 7 (2 years post 5-year landmark) was 90.1%. Only 14 deaths occurred, with seven of them caused by melanoma. The MSS at year 7 (2 years post 5-year landmark) was 95.0%.

For patients who completed anti-PD-1 based therapy and did not require subsequent treatment by five years, the probability of not requiring additional treatment for an additional two years was 95.7%. These findings suggest that patients treated with anti-PD-1 regimens off clinical trials who survive at least 5 years from initial anti-PD-1 treatment can be reassured of their excellent long-term prognosis.

Reference
Loo K, Kalvin HL, Panageas KS, et al. Beyond the 5-year milestone: Long-term survivorship of melanoma patients treated off-trial with anti-PD-1. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2023 Apr 11. doi: 10.1111/pcmr.13083. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37039320.